Our Bioassay Labs

AIRID's research is supported by a growing network of specialized laboratories and field sites designed to deliver high-quality, Africa-led scientific research. Each facility plays a critical role in generating evidence for disease control, product evaluation, and innovation. Our facilities are staffed by dedicated teams of supervisors, research assistants, and technicians who ensure operational excellence and adherence to international standards.

The Insecticide Bioassay Laboratory at AIRID is a core facility dedicated to evaluating the efficacy of a wide range of vector control interventions under standardized laboratory conditions. These include insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), indoor residual sprays (IRS), attractive targeted sugar baits (ATSBs), spatial repellents, Topical repellents, larvicides, and other novel tools.

All studies are conducted in accordance with the OECD Principles of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and follow the World Health Organization (WHO) prequalification guidelines, ensuring scientific rigour, data integrity, and regulatory compliance.

• Perform WHO susceptibility bioassays (bottle bioassays and tube tests) to assess vector resistance to new public health insecticides
• Determine diagnostic concentrations of new public health insecticides
• Evaluate regeneration time and wash resistance of new insecticide treated nets in WHO cone and tunnel tests
• Evaluate residual activity of IRS insecticides on different block substrates (mud, cement, wood, tile etc)
• Evaluate efficacy and residual activity of larvicides
• Evaluate topical repellents in arm in cage experiments
• Evaluate efficacy of new spatial repellent insecticides under controlled laboratory conditions.
• Support product development and WHO prequalification dossiers

The laboratory plays a vital role in AIRID's mission to generate high-quality, policy-relevant data for national malaria control programs, international partners, and product developers. It supports regulatory submissions, operational research, and innovation in vector control—contributing to better tools and strategies to fight vector-borne diseases.

Equipped with controlled-temperature testing rooms, calibrated exposure chambers, chemical storage rooms, IRS block treatments rooms, fume hoods, incubators etc.